* The two week shut down is geared to teen to adult dogs . Puppies do need a bonding time with their new humans, a whelping period so to speak, but they have a different requirements than a more aged dog . It is important to fully vaccinate and de-worm your puppy before venturing out into the world. I suggest strongly getting your new puppy to a veterinarian for proper de-worming and vaccinations. But note the shut down period is not recommended for young puppies as they have crucial needs that are special than older dogs in proper development and socialization.

“The First Two Weeks – Give’em a Break!”why?

If I could stress one of the biggest errors people make with new dogs and foster dogs it is rushing the dog into the new world so fast . This shut down gives the dog a chance to say “ahhh” take a breath and restart into its new world.

From people I have helped I hear;"I introduced her to 15 people the first day I had her!" ;" he was a bit leery but seems to like my other 3 dogs" ; "she went everywhere with me "All in the first few days of the new home..... (!!!)

two weeks later we hear;" I think we will have to rehome the new dog" "the new dog barked and nipped at my kid""we had a dog fight" ; “the new dog barked at me for moving him off the couch”

Ok, folks, here it comes, some feel this is extreme, why? I really do not know.But when bringing in a new dog, post finding, adoption, buying, etc, Give it time to adjust to you and your family and the dogs in the new environment.Just as if it were a new baby or puppy, we wouldn’t think of rushing out with a baby or puppy, yet with older pups and dogs we just expect them to take our lives in all at once!

TWO WEEKS - "shut down"For the first two weeks, (sometimes even longer) a dog takes in the new environment, who is the top person, or animal, who ARE these people!? By pushing a dog too fast, and throwing too much at the dog we look like we are not the leaders,and the dog can feel it MUST defend itself , as the leader is surely no one he has met so far!We coo , coodle, drag the dog to home to home to person to person, and the dog has NO idea who we are. We correct for things it doesn’t understand, we talk in a new human language using words he does not know.A key thing to remember is "this is the dating period NOT the honeymoon"When you first met your "spouse or significant other”, you were on your best behavior, you were not relaxed enough to be all of yourself, were you?Just think of the things you do physically once you get to KNOW a person,you wouldn’t run up to a stranger and hug them and squeeze them!Imagine, if on the first date, this new person, was all over you touching you and having their friends hug you and pat you on the head, and jostle your shoulders, looked in your mouth then he whisked you off to another strangers home and they did the same thing.Would you think this person normal and SAFE? Wouldn’t you feel invaded andbegin to get a bit snarky or defensive yourself? Wouldn’t you think to push these people away for obviously your date is out of their mind, as they aren’t going to save you from these weirdoes!!Yet we do this very thing to our dogs, and then get upset or worried that they aren’t relaxed and accepting of EVERYTHING instantly!

By shutting down the dog, it gives the dog TIME to see you , meet YOU, hear and take in the new sounds and smells of your home and all the people in it. In the 1st two weeks;.Crate the dog in a room by itself if possible.(Believe me, dogs are sensory animals, they know more than you think without seeing it).Leash the dog (so I don’t have to correct it ..you don’t have that right yet!), give it exercise time in the yard on lunge line or in fenced yard..but other than that.. LEASH , (yes..leash in the house too.)Do no training at all, just fun exercise and maybe throw some toys for fun, leash the dog if you don’t have a fence outside. But DO NOT leave the yard, AT ALL.No car rides, no other dogs, (unless crated beside them), no pet stores, no WALKS even, nothing but you and household family, your home, your yard. (Unless of course the dog needs to go to the vetinarian)Believe me dogs can live two weeks without walks. Walks are stressful for there is so much coming at you and your dog! And the dog has no clue who you are yet. The dog may react to something and we start correcting it with the leash and we just installed a VERY STRESSFUL moment to the dog in what should be a fun and learning walk.TEACH the dog by doing the shut down, that YOU are the one to look to, that you are now here for the dog! He can trust in you and look to you for guidance.Then you can venture out into new situations one at a time, the dog knows he can trust in his new humans and can relax under the fair guidance of his new leaders!

In the house take the dog out only for about 20-30 minute intervals , post excercise/yard times.,and ALWAYS on a leash when in the house or in an unfenced yard.Exercise is important! Running and free time are stress relievers, but don’t set your dog up for failure, make exercise and yard time fun and relaxing and tiring!

Then PUT THE DOG AWAY. let it absorb and think and relax. Ignore crying or barking, just like a new born baby, he must find security when you are not right there, and if you run to him each time he will think barking and crying will get your attention.I do not introduce resident dogs for these two weeks, they can be side by side in the crates, (not nose to nose for they can feel defensive) . Some dogs will bond instantly with the other dogs if we don’t bond FIRST with the dog, and this can lead to some other issues, as the dog will look to the other dog(s) for guidance and not YOU!

Literally in two weeks you will see a change in the dog and begin to see its honest and true personality.Just like a house guest.. they are well behaved and literally shut down and “polite” themselves these first few weeks, then post this time, they relax and the true personality begins to shine thru.

so, please,, if nothing else for your new dog, give it the time to LEARN YOU as you are learning who they are!This method works on shy dogs, confident dogs, abuse cases, chained dogs that come in, rowdy dogs, all temperaments!

Here are some pictures of a few dogs that were here or are here.. you can literally see the difference in the dog! Look at the facial expressions, the way they hold their bodies and ears.

Scooter came in throwing “bully fits” to get her way. Her expression was blank …

Scooters smile and personaltiy started to shine if a few weeks!

CooperTop came in barking and growling and scared of the world..And when I gained her trust..omgosh what a difference in her !!!

Meatball.. talk about expression change.

Just look at how much their eyes even sparkle more!

Of course Kosmo is really an extreme difference..

One week later and look at the expression, his fun happy personality is starting to come thru!

It isnt just the big ol bully smiles, its the expression, the way they start to LOOK at me, for guidance,I gained their trust and showed them, calmly and fairly what this new world is like, they literally relax and feel safe.

So please for the sake of your new dog, slow down.. waaaay dowwwn.... Give them a chance to show youwho they can really be!

Awesome post, luv!
People thought I was being a meanie when I had sol in 'quarantine' for the first few weeks, and still took things really slooooooow after that. But he adjusted SO much better for it. Awesome pictures as well...you can really see the difference

Excellent, I can only hope people will read and learn.
Although it is too late now, a certain shelter pit bull could have been spared his life more then likely, if his adopter would have followed this advice. Thank you for taking the time to write this and show the 'before' and 'after' pics!

pblove wrote:Excellent, I can only hope people will read and learn.Although it is too late now, a certain shelter pit bull could have been spared his life more then likely, if his adopter would have followed this advice. Thank you for taking the time to write this and show the 'before' and 'after' pics!

Kirstan wrote:... nicely done! I think that common sense is lacking in so much of today's world.

Coal the foster puppy thanks you, too.

It really is alot of common sense, and if my trainer didnt install this thinking in me I would of never thought of it either!
It is hard when we get that new puppy or new dog not to rush out and show the world. But if we just hold back and gain some trust we start off so much better and end up so much better later on, thwarting all kinds of lil to big problems.

And Concreterose and pblove, I tried (!!!) so hard on the dog you are speaking about.. I emailed many times, and tried to really get that person on track. But some just do things their own way, or follow thru just here and there (which confuses the dog even more, one day one set of rules, the next day something entirely different). *sigh*

I when I adopte a dog out (which does happen.. and would like to see that happen again!! hint hint to the adoption gods) I write all this up a bit more in tune for that particular dog, and people who follow this have so much better results with their dogs! I rarely have returns and usually get nothing but good feed back, all from just starting SLOW!